Toshiba Sattelite--RAM/HDD may be jarred loose. Help, please!?

I dropped my laptop when my cat scared me. It was on but closed and I was sitting on the couch. It fell about 2-3 feet. The screen is not damaged as far as I can tell. But it froze up shortly after, I tried to close everything and shut it down right away. But the screen kind of when fuzzy and shut off. I don't think it shut down correctly. Because when I turned it back on later it asked me if I wanted to start up in safe mode(the screen still seemed absolutely find, I don't think it was damaged). I tried to start it normally, but it was stuck on the Starting Windows (windows 7) screen, after waiting a long while I shut it down by force. And when I hold my laptop vertically and tilt it from front to back (very gently!) it seems as though something is loose. Also the plate which covers my RAM is a little bent. So I think it is probably hard drive, because I don't think it would do what it does if it were my RAM.

I only know a little bit about desktops, and even less when it comes to laptops, and all the information I can find on the internet is about broken screens. Is there any advice someone could give me before I take my computer in?

 

It's possible that something is loose inside but it isn't the RAM because, if there's a RAM problem, the computer won't boot.

I would be worried about the HDD because, unless your computer has a g sensor to automatically part the HDD heads if there is any significant movement, the impact may have caused the heads to damage the platters. That could explain why Windows is hanging.

You could try booting from a Linux live CD and then check if the HDD is fully readable. I'm sure Linux has a utility somewhere that would scan the HDD for errors. Also, the HDD is usually under a cover so it should be easy to check if it is loose.

John